Beware Of The Bridezilla

Whether on the big screen or in real life, we've all seen the "bridezilla": a bride-to-be who is so obsessed with making her big day perfect that she becomes a monster.

According to The Knot, 65 percent of engaged couples are paying for aspects of their wedding. Brides are doing much of the planning, and guests see the wedding as an expression of her style. Celebrity weddings have also raised the bar, and many women dream of the same picture-perfect affair they see on TV and in magazines.

With all of that stress and so much to do, how can a bride-to-be stay sane while planning the wedding of her dreams?

Carley Roney, editor-in-chief of The Knot, offers some insight and helpful tips to help tame their inner bridezilla.

Roney says a good indication that a bride-to-be is becoming a bridezilla is that she cannot talk about anything besides the wedding; she is obsessed with details, extremely self-absorbed, and is unable to recognize that those around her have lives that don't center around her wedding.

Some bully brides may even try and pre-plan their showers and bachelorette parties. Roney says the honoree should step back, let her bridal party decide what to do and enjoy what is being done for her.

The bride-to-be, however, should make it clear who is in charge, whether it be the maid of honor or another bridesmaid. Since not everyone may understand their roles, Roney says this can be made clear via e-mail.

E-mail is also an effective way to communicate when planning a wedding out-of-state or without the help of a planner, she says.

When working with vendors, avoid bridezilla behavior by being professional.

The florist, wedding planner and caterer are not indentured servants. Roney says people will do better quality work if they are treated with respect. Be complimentary and appreciative of their work.

Here are a few other suggestions:

Be sensitive to the daily lives of others: Bridesmaids cannot stay over until 2 a.m. tying ribbons on favors. They have jobs, boyfriends and lives of their own.

Be flexible about the bridesmaids' dresses: Not everyone is comfortable wearing a slinky dress. Be sensitive to body issues and body types.

Pick your three: Brides should demand of themselves not to stress over anything. If they must, pick just three things to stress over. Roney says for her, the three things would have been the food, her dress and the music.

Roney's most important piece of advice: Guests are not coming to pick your wedding apart; they're there to celebrate your day with you. Details won't make your wedding better. If you're smiling, people will see you're having fun and will say, "This is the best wedding ever."